"Hey, Tristan. Mind if I walk with you?" said Rory, falling into step with the blonde.
Tristan looked at her surprised.
"Yeah. Course. Sure. You can walk with me," said Tristan, slowing down his pace so that Rory wouldn't have to run to keep up with him. "I thought you didn't like this type of thing."
"What type of thing?"
"Walking, and such."
"I don't normally. Thought I'd better get reacquainted with nature though." Rory started slapping at the mosquitoes. "I'm much more the stay indoors and read type. Not much for coordination, you know." Rory tripped on a twig and stumbled forward.
"How's Chilton doing?' Tristan asked as he grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Thanks. We're second on the leader board. Redfield beat us at swimming. How's Merlet holding out?"
"Good. We beat Berchmoore in debate, and we made it through the second round in chess. We're holding our own," said Tristan.
"That's good. Great, really great."
"Did Paris send you out here to wheedle information from me?"
"Where did you come up with such an idea?"
"She did the same to me last year. Sent me to spy on Trisbourn. Not that I minded, of course," Tristan said with a smile.
"Oh yes, the lovely Trisbourn girls."
"Getting back to it though. Did Paris send you out here?"
Rory looked down at her feet and felt the heat rush to her cheeks.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"You should think of it as a compliment. She actually feels threatened by you. She was under the impression that Merlet wouldn't even be invited this year, cos…well."
"I know we're not the most prestigious of the schools here, but believe it or not, Merlet has produced many fine men in its years."
"Yeah?"
"Ever heard of Archie Selphcott?" Tristan asked.
"No."
"He attended Merlet from 1940 to 1945. He's the founder or Camp Selphie."
"Oh."
"That's why Merlet gets the invitation every year to attend."
"I guess that's why you feel so motivated to bring the trophy back to Merlet," Rory concluded.
"That's one of the reasons," said Tristan, taking her hand to help her across a rocky section.
"And the other reasons?"
"To show certain people that we are not worthless after all. That we're not the scum of the earth and that we deserve a second chance," said Tristan.
"I'm sure that's not what people think," Rory assured him.
"And what do you think?"
Rory looked up at him.
"I think that- oof!" Rory pitched sideways as he foot got caught under a bough of wood. Tristan caught her before she hit the ground and smiled.
"You sure weren't kidding when you said you weren't coordinated, were you?"
"Ow."
"Are you hurt?"
"Nope. Just my ego that's been injured."
"Why don't we head back? You can cuddle up by the fire, read a good book and tell Paris that she has every right to worry about Merlet."